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Sports: Tee Up Your Game

2 minute read
Sean Gregory

Are your shots slicing into the rough? Don’t worry–even Tiger Woods, who missed his first cut in seven years last week, can always use help with his game. A TIME guide for the fairways, with early gift ideas for Father’s Day, plus tips for women from one who has found her swing. –By Sean Gregory

A MIXED BAG

The most explosive trend in golf clubs? Hybrids–those half wood, half irons. Their larger, woodlike club faces make two- and three-iron approach shots far easier to hit. This season’s hot hybrid newcomers: the Nickent Genex ($129) and Sonartec MD ($199).

HAVING A BALL

The Pro V1, from Titleist, dominates the golf-ball market, but worthy competition has emerged. Bridgestone’s Tour B330 ($54 a dozen) has a seamless cover that limits swirling in the air, while the paper-thin cover of the Srixon Z-UR ($55) allows for a bigger elastic core, giving the ball more distance.

BRIGHTEN THE BIRDIES

Ditch the black shirts and gray pants. Bright colors and high-tech garments that chase the sweat away are scoring this year. Cutter & Buck’s shore blue (for men) and solar yellow (for women) ThermaTec shirts, out in June, have tiny silver fibers that keep duffers cool ($79).

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Write to Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com